, 1887-03-24
Eastern washinRtOn.


The Portland News contains the fol-
lowing item of local interest which is
produced in its entirety:
A we'll known business man OF Spo-
kane Falls is in the city for few days.
He says his town is growing wonder
fully and that there will be big de-
mand for building material as soon as
the spring season opens, and doubts
ii the saw mills will be able to supply
the demand for lumber.
"Do think the proposition TO unite
Northern Idaho and that portion OF
Washington territory between the angle
of the Columbia and Snake river, un-
der the territory of Columbian" re-
marked the gentleman yesterday in
response to n News reporters query.
at is my opinion" he continued,
"that it is the most feasible plan yet
suggested. 1t was the wish of the
people OF Northern Idaho to be an
nexcd to Washington Territory. but
this scheme is lost in the new one.
Here are the advantages of the pro-
the people OF eastern Washington
have to take IA roundabout way to
reach Olympia, the capital, and the
Idaho Panhandle is in n similar pre-
dicament. Necessity is the mother of
invention, hence the consolidation
idea. The new territory OF Columbia
would embrace the following towns
Spokane Falls, population $500; Col
fax, 300; Pennington, 500; Ritzville,
200; Sprague, 1900; PalOuse, $50;
Cheney, $50 and Pasco $50, in Wash
ington; Moscow, 1000; Lewiston,
LOO; Murray, | 800; Wardner, 800;
Rathdrum, 300 and Mount Idaho 200
in Idaho. In northern Idaho are the
following valleys Lemhi, seventy
miles long and three to six miles wide;
Pah-Simari, twenty-five miles long
and one to five miles wide; Northern
Camas Prairie, thirty miles
long and twenty to twenty-five
miles wide Potlach, twenty-five miles
long and ten to fifteen broad Palouse,
twenty miles in length and five to ten
miles broad st. Joseph, fifteen miles
long and five to ten miles broad. The
valleys above mentioned are not all
that are suitable for settlement. There
are score OF more that possess equal
ly as advantageous opportunities.
Beautiful little wales, cozy parks hid
den among the hills--thcse urc innu.
merable, while sheep ranges, dairy
farms, poultry ranches, and apiaries,
could be established in n thousand To-
calities. In this section there are
100000 acres open to settlement un-
der the homestead and prc.emption
laws. The soil is rich and the fiat bot
tom lands or undulating plateaus are
capable OF producing abundantly.
Probably not one twentieth part of the
arabic valley lands is occupied. Irr-
CATION is not necessary. North Paloise.
Gcnesec, Paradise and Potlach valleys
are very productive. Fruits grow in
perfection around Lewiston. On one
farm on Cedar creek the owner thresh-
ed 200 bushels Of wheat from two and
onc-hnlf acres; another 5000 bush.
els OF wheat from thirty-four
acres; another S12 bushels of oats
from nine acres. Flax yields thirty
two bushels per acre. The counties of
Adams, Douglas, Franklin, Lincoln, /
Spokane and the eastern
part OF stevens are included. Adams .
IS fifty by thirty miles. II is well .
,dapted for the production OF vegeta-
lies, hardy small fruits, grasses, live
took, dairy products, etc. Franklin
contains 400 square miles. The chief
industry is the raising of stock. An
area of bunch grass is excel
rnt pasturage the year round. Doug
rs occupies GOOO square miles. 1t has
he largest body of unbroken prairie
md in the territory, but the scarcity
{ water retards its Settlement. Lin